Strathendrick rugby players get win over rivals Clydebank

Oct 30 2009 by Our Correspondent, Stirling Observer Friday

STRATHENDRICK 22

CLYDEBANK 15

FOR more than 30 years matches between Strathendrick and Clydebank have generated a special atmosphere.

And the bigger-than-usual crowd could not complain that Saturday's encounter did not come up to expectations in terms of commitment from all the players.

The match had a bit of everything: effort, skill, big hits, controversy, good tries, the occasional spot of aggrieved personal confrontation and flashes of good rugby from both sides.

Clydebank's last two results at Fintry have been wins and another victory on Saturday would put them ahead of Endrick and well in touch with the top of the table. It was a good build-up for a keen match.

And, of course, in such a charged-up arena the referee took stick from all sides – players and spectators. If you can't please everybody you may as well please nobody.

Endrick were penalised in the first minute of the match when they were in an attacking position. Their next indiscretion two minutes later was in their own half and Bankies' scrum-half knocked over the penalty with ease to put his side ahead.

These three points separated the teams for the next half-hour as neither could find a way through rugged defence.

Endrick had a big fright in 16 minutes when Dougie Porteous tried to chip the ball over his opposite number, who reached up, knocked it down and made a beeline for the Endrick end. Players claimed it was a deliberate knock-on but the referee judged that the ball had been charged down and let play proceed. Fortunately for Endrick, the cover was fast enough to seal off the danger.

The match continued at a furious pace and 10 minutes before the interval exchanges went a bit too far and a player from each side was sent to the touchline for ten minutes to cool off. No yellow cards were shown, as the man in charge had omitted to bring them – for Endrick v Bankies?

While the teams were short-handed Clydebank found a way through, their right winger scoring the game's first try near the corner. The kick at goal was missed but the visitors took an 8-0 lead into the second half.

The half-time team talk worked wonders for Endrick and they stormed back into the game after the restart.

After four minutes a diagonal kick by Bruce Duncan was gathered by Kyle Campbell, who made ground before feeding Steven Bastock, who raced over for a try. Bruce Duncan added the conversion to bring Endrick to within a single point of the visitors.

Three minutes later the lead changed hands when Steven Bastock made a good break and Dougie Porteous came outside in support to charge to the line. Bruce Duncan's kick for the extra points hit a post and stayed out but Endrick were in the lead at 12-8.

Neither side were able to add to their tally until the match was going into its final quarter.

In 64 minutes a Bruce Duncan penalty widened the margin and two minutes later the fly-half was again on the score sheet. He received the ball in midfield and a feint and change of direction created a gap for him. A two-man overlap was ignored as he swerved past the last two opponents to score a peach of a try at the posts. The conversion was a mere formality and Endrick had a 22-8 cushion.

For a time they looked capable of adding to it but Clydebank rallied and in the closing minutes laid siege to the Endrick line. With two minutes of normal time left a penalty to touch, 5m from the line, gave them an excellent attacking position. From the lineout they drove hard but Endrick's pack held them up and somehow regained possession, not legally apparently.

In an astonishing finish the rest of the match – and that included more than three minutes of stoppage time added on – was played in that small corner of Ruth Menzies Field. Bankies had the ball, Endrick's pack won it back but either knocked on or were penalised and the ball went back to Bankies for the cycle to start again.

The visitors finally broke the sequence in the 44th minute of the half by pushing over for a converted try. That was the end of an exciting afternoon and Clydebank were forced to settle for a losers' bonus point.

League leaders Cumbernauld did not play and Endrick are now within three points of their total with the same number of games played.

ENDRICK: S Emmerson, K Campbell, S Bastock, N McQuarrie, D Porteous, B Duncan, H Douglas, D. Spence, S Forsyth, M Scott, S O'Brien (capt), S Cuthbertson, M Braceland, J Porteous and E McKay; replacements R Kerr, G McAlpine and B Holmes.

On Saturday Endrick travel to Maybole for a league fixture against Carrick. The kick-off is at 2pm.

ENDRICK 2nds’ home record was retained on Saturday when their opponents Cambuslang 2nd could not raise a team and conceded the match. The competition rules put this down as a 28-0 win for Endrick and they take four championship points plus a bonus point.

This week Endrick 2nds are at home to East Kilbride 2nds. The match kicks off at 2pm.